Fluid infusion patch pump device with automatic startup feature

Abstract

A fluid infusion device and related operating methods are disclosed. The fluid infusion device has a housing, a fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit coupled to the pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the conduit into the body. An exemplary method begins by detecting a first installation of a fluid cartridge module in the housing, wherein the detecting occurs after the housing has been affixed to the body. In response to the detecting, the operating method automatically activates the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
 a housing that receives a fluid cartridge module comprising an electrically conductive element; 
 an electronic detection circuit having electrically conductive terminals; 
 a fluid pump mechanism within the housing; 
 a drive motor coupled to actuate the fluid pump mechanism; 
 a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism; 
 an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body; and 
 a processor device operatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the processor device executes computer readable program instructions to initiate an automatic startup routine when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing, in response to contact between the electrically conductive element of the fluid cartridge module and the electrically conductive terminals of the electronic detection circuit; 
 wherein the insertion mechanism is automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; and 
 the program instructions executed by the processor device interpret the coded features and automatically configure at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as interpreted. 
 
     
     
       3. The fluid infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device. 
     
     
       4. The fluid infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
       5. The fluid infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the coded features are physical features of the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
       6. The fluid infusion device of  claim 2 , wherein the coded features are electrically, optically, or magnetically detectable features of the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
       7. The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions executed by the processor device initiate an automatic priming operation when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing. 
     
     
       8. The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fluid infusion device is a disposable insulin pump device; and 
 the medication fluid comprises insulin. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of operating a fluid infusion device comprising a housing, an electronic detection circuit having electrically conductive terminals, a fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the method comprising:
 detecting a first installation of a fluid cartridge module in the housing, the fluid cartridge module comprising an electrically conductive element, wherein the detecting occurs after the housing has been affixed to the body and in response to contact between the electrically conductive element of the fluid cartridge module and the electrically conductive terminals of the electronic detection circuit; and 
 in response to the detecting, automatically activating the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to the detecting, initiating an automatic startup routine for the fluid infusion device. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; and 
 the method further comprises reading the coded features and automatically configuring at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as read. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 after inserting the fluid conduit into the body, initiating an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid. 
 
     
     
       15. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
 a housing that receives a fluid cartridge module comprising an electrically conductive element; 
 an electronic detection circuit having electrically conductive terminals; 
 a fluid pump mechanism within the housing; 
 a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism; and 
 an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the insertion mechanism being automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing, in response to contact between the electrically conductive element of the fluid cartridge module and the electrically conductive terminals of the electronic detection circuit; 
 wherein, after the insertion mechanism inserts the fluid conduit into the body, the fluid pump mechanism performs an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid. 
 
     
     
       16. The fluid infusion device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; 
 the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and 
 at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device is automatically configured in accordance with the coded features as read. 
 
     
     
       17. The fluid infusion device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; 
 the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and 
 the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module.